Flexible electrical connection



Aug. 31 1926. 1,597,891

\ G. E. HULsl-z` FLEXIBLE ELECTRI CAL CONNECTION Filed`Jan. 27, 1922 lll Ill v Wl/,Effiz- Patented Aug. 3l, 1926.

UNITED STATES GEORGE E. HULSE, OF BIA-VEN', CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SAFETY can. HEAT- ING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

Application led January 27,1922.

This invention relates to construction for fiexible electrical connections and the like and, with regard to certain more specific features, to the construction of insulated 5 flexible electrical connections designed for use under conditions such as may'subject them or their insulation to wear and deterioration due to exposure to adjacent moving elements. One of the objects thereof is to provide a strong and' dependable construction of the above nature adapted successfully to withstand the conditions of hard practical use. Another object is to' provide a simple and efficient construction of the above nature in whichlthe insulation is not only flexible but well adapted to resist wea-r and in which conductor thereby becoming exposed is reduced to a minimum. Other objects will be 2o in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be'indicated inthe following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention igure 1.is an elevation of a'flexible electrical conductor and associated parts partly in section and with certain parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a detached elevation of one of the associated parts shown in Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to the rightand sideof Fig. -1, but showing cer- 40 tain parts more in detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of. the drawing.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention it ma be here noted that in many types of flexible conductors now ordinarily in use a tiexible covering of insulating material is employed to encase the conductor. In application of the flexible conductor to devices such as leads .for generator brushesand the like, wherein' the conductor is continually subjected totwisting and distortion and the liability of rubbing against adjacent objects,

this flexible casing often wears through and the danger of the electrical eration, when YSerial No. 532,119.

exposes the conductor. The provision of a construction of this general nature which will obviate this danger and provide an etticient, reliable and flexible protection for the conductor is among the dominant aims of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first to Fig. 1, there is shown an electrical conductor 10 preferably of a stranded construction to provide a flexible electrical connection. The conductor 10 may be covered by suitable inner insulating means 11 such as rubber with cotton fabric superimposed thereon. The conductor 10 maybe provided with terminal connections such as 14, one of which is shown 'in section in Figure 1 and may be noted to have a conical seat 16 terminating in an aperture 17 adapted to receive'the end of the conductor 10. A plug 18 havinga conical projection as 19 adapted to mate with. the conical seat 16, may be threaded into the terminal connection 14 at a point opposite the aperture 17. In opplug 18 is screwed into position, the conical projection 19 may engage the end of the stranded conductor 10, sepa- 4 rating the strandsifradially and securely binding them against the conical seat 16, thereby forming a rigid electrical connection between the conductor 10 and the terminal connection 14. The terminals 14 are shown each provided with a drilled fiange 15 by means of which electrical connection may be made to any desired element.

At 12 is shown a spirally wound outer 9o' covering preferably of a non-conductive wear-resisting material such as leather which envelops the inner insulation 11 and the ilexible conductor 10 encased therein. This protective covering l2 being preferably of 95 a non-abrasive yielding nature will not wear the inner insulation 11 in case the conductor is bent and twisted in service and provides additional insulation which will tend to nullify the effect of a break in the inner insulation. As shown at 2O in Fig. 1, the ends of the outer insulating covering 12 contact snugly with terminal connections 14l thereby to insure complete encasement of the inner insulationll. Fig. 2 shows a detached section of the outer insulation 12 and a means at its end for securing the latter to terminal connections 14 as at 20 of Fig. 1. This attaching means may comprise a metal strip or wire 21 attached to covering 12 pref- 110 .strip being adapted to 1n its position about the inner insulation 11 Vand there is no possibility of its slipping along the conductor and away lfrom the terminal connections 14.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a. construction in which the several objects o this invention are achieved and that the same is well ada ted to -meet the exacting conditions of har practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as vari-ous changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be undrstood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the `ac companyin drawings is to be interpreted as iillustratlve and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention 1. In a construction of the character described, in combination, a flexible stranded electrical conductor, an insulating covering about said conductor, an outer protective casin exterior oifsaid insulation comprising a spirally wound leather strip, a terminal connecting device having a passage thereinto for receivin threade the end of said conductorjand a member adapted to clamp said conductor end aga-inst a lend of said leather strip,

`name to this specification this secure said conductor'to said termina device andmake electrical connection therebetween, and a metal strip secured to the entering said passage with said conductor end clamped therewith by said threaded member to hold said spiral covering in place. 2. In construction of the character described, in combination, 'an electric-al conductor, a terminal connection for said electrical conductor including a conical seat terminating inan opening through which said electrical conductor is inserted and a conical plug threaded into said terminal connection and adapted to bind the end of said electrical conductor against said conical seat, a protective cover'ng encasing said electrical conductor and comprising ,a spirally wound strip of yielding non-metallic material, and a metal strip secured at one end to said spiral strip and projecting therefrom adjacent said terminal connection and adapted to be held between said conical seat and said conical plug in conjunction with the end of said electrical conductor thereby to secure said protective covering in position against removal vfrom said electrical con ductor.

In testimonyT whereof, I have signed my 20th day of January, 1922.

GEORGE E, HULsE.

wall of said passa etov 

